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First-round draft predictions
A prediction on how the first round of the NBA draft will go, from NBCSports.com contributor Ray Glier.

x-Minnesota forfeits first-round pick

TEAM NAME POS. HT. WT. COLLEGE
1. Washington Kwame Brown PF 6-11 230 Brunswick, Ga. (H.S.)
Few players have helped themselves more in the pre-draft spectacle. He visited Washington on Friday for a visit with Michael Jordan and the Wizards. The Wizards could keep the pick and take him, but what about this scenario: Jordan deals with nemesis Jerry Krause. Washington takes Brown and trades him to Chicago for Elton Brand and the No. 4 pick, which is used for Rodney White, who Jordan covets. Wizards need a point guard so they could hold Brown for Vancouver and get Mike Bibby and White with the No. 6 pick, providing he's still available. That's two starters to play alongside Jordan and Courtney Alexander next season.
2. L.A. Clippers Tyson Chandler C 7-1 195 Compton, Calif. (H.S.)
Clips swear they will not deal center Michael Olowokandi, which means they see the athletic Chandler as a power forward. The LA-bred Chandler has been impressive in workouts and if Brown is gone, this is their pick.
3. Atlanta Shane Battier SF 6-8 220 Duke
Atlanta hasn't had a leader since Steve Smith was shipped to Portland. The Hawks need a player to bring all their young talent together into one. They really like Battier and will grab him to add to young mix.
4. Chicago Rodney White PF 6-8 230 Charlotte
Chicago needs a star. It needs a great player to pull them out of this dive. It's not White. It's Kwame Brown. The Bulls deal White to Michael Jordan, who likes the versatile Charlotte forward. Eddy Curry is a Chicago-kid who the club has gotten to know very well, but the Bulls can't wait for Curry to develop.
5. Golden State Eddie Griffin PF 6-9 205 Seton Hall
Projected as No. 1 overall in draft a month ago. He would be another athletic forward to play alongside Antawn Jamison. The Warriors are awful; they need immediate help and shouldn't take one of the high school kids.
6. Memphis Eddy Curry C 6-10 300 South Holland, Ill. (H.S.)
If the Grizz want a player to build new franchise around in Memphis this is their kid. Soft hands, big body. He has the potential to be a player. His conditioning wasn't very good in pre-draft workouts and that has to be a concern. Still, he's a power player who can dominate a game.
7. New Jersey Jason Richardson SG 6-6 220 Michigan State
Nets need a scoring threat to go with Marbury. JR can score. Tentative on outside shot at times, but he is going to get better and better and better.
8. Cleveland Joe Johnson SF 6-9 225 Arkansas
Cavs would love Richardson to fall to them and he might if Spain's Pau Gasol goes as high as No. 6 as some insist. If Cleveland takes Johnson he is a great consolation pick. Didn't bloom at Arkansas because of style of coaching, which spread minutes around and didn't take advantage of his skill. He can handle the ball in traffic and create his own offense.
9. Detroit Loren Woods C 7-1 251 Arizona
Pistons need an athletic, small forward, but they also need a center and Woods will be hard to pass on here. When he got a chance to step up and show skills in NCAA title game he looked great.
10. Boston Pau Gasol PF 7-0 215 Barcelona (Spain)
It was rumored Gasol said he was going home if he wasn't in the Top 10. Apparently he has a deal with someone because he stayed in the draft. It might have been just a bluff. Even if Celtics can grab him with No. 10 they will have to wait a year to get him because of $2 million buyout on European contract. Hunch. There's a deal in works that pushes Gasol up to No. 6.
11. Boston Kedrick Brown SF 6-7 225 Okaloosa-Walton C.C.
Terrific athlete who can shoot; will be surprise lottery pick of the draft; gives the Celtics added scoring to go with Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce.
12. Seattle Vladimir Radmanovic PF 6-11 227 FMP Zeleznik (Yugoslavia)
Other than DePaul's Steven Hunter, no one has jumped in the pecking order like this guy. He's 6-10 and can shoot. He can pass and knows the game. Sonics want immediate scoring help for Gary Payton and they need rebounding. Two shortcomings are filled with this pick.
13. Houston Brendan Haywood C 7-1 264 North Carolina
The Rockets have very good guards and will go after Chris Webber to play forward. They need help in the middle and Haywood is a 7-footer they won't pass on.
14. Golden State DeSagana Diop C 7-0 310 Oak Hill, Va. (H.S.)
Warriors could use a point guard and if Tinsley is there, they grab him. If he's gone, they need a center and could grab this high school player. He is very raw and needs work, but has a lot of potential. He'll be very motivated after dropping this far in the draft.
15. Orlando Steven Hunter C 7-0 215 DePaul
No player jumped in the pre-draft workouts like the DePaul center. He wasn't in the draft in first round mock drafts a month ago and he looks like a solid pick at No. 15 because he can block shots and play good defense inside.
16. Charlotte Richard Jefferson SF 6-7 222 Arizona
Jefferson gave himself a big draft boost with his performance in the NCAA Tournament, in which he showed defensive skill and an ability to finish near the basket. Will need a better outside shot in the NBA. The Hornets need some depth inside, but it will be hard to let Jefferson go by.
17. Toronto Zach Randolph C 6-9 270 Michigan State
Randolph needs another year of college (a lot of draftees do), but he can contribute right away because he is a very good rebounder and bangs inside. The scoring will come. Well-coached in college and it will show in the NBA.
18. Houston Troy Murphy PF 6-10 237 Notre Dame
Big guy who can score and complement Steve Francis and Cutino Mobley. Might be slighting him by picking him this low, but teams are desperate for centers and there are a lot in the draft. Very polished player who can help a team right away. If Rockets don't get C-Webb this is their insurance.
19. Portland Jason Collins C 7-0 255 Stanford
The Blazers need help in the middle for Arvydas Sabonis, who can't keep up with younger centers in the league. Getting this Pac-10 center is good insurance in the post.
20. Cleveland Jeff Trepagnier SG 6-5 195 Southern Cal
Terrific athlete who has played well against top compeititon. The Cavs need help at shooting guard and he can push Trajan Langdan as the shooter who takes feeds from Cleveland's best player, point guard Andre Miller.
21. Boston Tony Parker PG 6-2 177 Basket Racing (France)
The best U.S. college point guard may be Jamaal Tinsley, but Tony Parker, a European talent, might be better and could go higher in the first round. Warriors could get him at No. 14. He's just 19, but he handles the ball well and is very fast.
22. Orlando Omar Cook PG 6-1 190 St. John's
The Magic would have jumped at Tinsley, but will take a shot with Cook. He's strong enough and can make moves to get into the paint and score. Very athletic and can take the bump and grind. But can he shoot?
23. Houston Joseph Forte SG 6-4 192 North Carolina
The Rockets need a backup point guard. With work, Forte could be the backup point guard and even slide over to play off-guard to give Cuttino Mobley a rest.
24. Utah Trenton Hassell SG 6-5 200 Austin Peay
This late in first round the Jazz are going for the best available athlete and Hassell is it. He can shoot the NBA 3-pointer and has been impressive in workouts.
25. Sacramento Ken Johnson C 6-11 235 Ohio State
The Kings need a center inside to help deal with Shaq in the West wars. Johnson will be physical and he is a terrific shot-blocker. He's not a big scorer, but he can play defense and that's what Kings need to battle L.A.
26. Philadelphia Gilbert Arenas SG 6-3 191 Arizona
The Sixers will likely take a shooting guard to add to a bench led by Aaron McKie. Arenas will likely be the best two-guard remaining this late in the first round. Arenas can get hot and drill deep shot after deep shot. He can take some of the scoring pressure off McKie and starting guards Allen Iverson and Eric Snow.
27. Vancouver Gerald Wallace SF 6-7 210 Alabama
NBA-type athlete who will just get better. He can run the floor and rebound. Raw talent that will be a starter.
28. San Antonio Ousmane Cisse PF 6-8 250 Montgomery, Ala. (H.S.)
Cisse is a very raw but talented player. Luckily, he'll have time to develop with the Spurs.